NVIDIA recently announced the launch of two new game bundles for purchasers of certain GeForce GTX desktop of GeForce 700M and 800M mobile series graphics cards. The new bundles will offer up a redeemable code for the Unreal Engine 4-powered survival horror game DAYLIGHT to buyers of new desktop cards or a total of $150 of in-game currency in three Free-To-Play titles when buying a system with a new NVIDIA mobile GPU (or as an alternative to the DAYLIGHT bundle with desktop cards).

The DAYLIGHT game bundle is included with certain GeForce GTX 600 and 700-series desktop graphics cards. Users will get a redeemable code for a downloadable version of the game which can be activated on release day (April 8, 2014). Specifically, the eligible graphics cards for this bundle are as follows:

GTX TITAN

GTX 780 Ti

GTX 780

GTX 770

GTX 760

GTX 690

GTX 680

GTX 670

GTX 660 Ti

GTX 660

Alternatively, NVIDIA is offering $150 (total) in in-game currency for three free to play games to users that purchase a notebook with a 700M or 800M mobile GPU or as an alternative to the Daylight game bundle when purchasing certain desktop GPUs. The bundle will offer $50 of in-game currency for Heroes of Newerth, Path of Exile, and Warface. Users that purchase a mobile GPU (700M or 800M series) or GTX 750 Ti, GTX 750, GTX 650 Ti, or GTX 650 from a participating e-tailer or system builder will be able to get this game bundle.

According to NVIDIA, both of its new game bundles are available now with cards and pre-built systems from Newegg, Amazon, Tiger Direct, NCIX, et al, and nationwide system builders respectively. NVIDIA has put together a full list of participating partners along with further information on the following bundle information pages:

NVIDIA recently made new WHQL drivers available for users that have upgraded to Windows 8.1. The new drivers are version 326.01 and fully supports Windows 8.1. A full change log of the drivers has not yet been posted, but the 326.01 WHQL is likely very similar to the recent beta version, but with certification to work with the latest service pack/update to Windows 8.

The new 326.01 drivers are available via Windows Update or from the NVIDIA website. Supported GPUs include both desktop and notebook models from the 8000-series to the latest 700 series. Download links are below for the desktop and notebook drivers, depending on your bit-ness of Windows 8.1.

Recent rumors seem to suggest that NVIDIA will release its desktop-class GeForce 700 series of graphics cards later this year. The new card will reportedly be faster than the currently-available GTX 600 series, but will likely remain based on the company's Kepler architecture.

According to the information presented during NVIDIA's GTC keynote, its Kepler architecture will dominate 2012 and 2013. It will then follow up with Maxwell-based cards in 2014. Notably absent from the slides are product names, meaning the publicly-available information at least leaves the possibility of a refreshed Kepler GTX 700 lineup in 2013 open.

Fudzilla further reports that NVIDIA will release the cards as soon as May 2013, with an official launch as soon as Computex. Having actual cards available for sale by Computex is a bit unlikely, but a summer launch could be possible if the new 700 series is merely a tweaked Kepler-based design with higher clocks and/or lower power usage. The company is rumored to be accelerating the launch of the GTX 700 series in the desktop space in response to AMD's heavy game-bundle marketing, which seems to be working well at persuading gamers to choose the red team.

What do you make of this rumor? Do you think a refreshed Kepler is coming this year?